Done in PS7. Ran a Screen Mask action to even up lighting. Slight USM and duped the BG. Ran smart blur on the dup, added a mask, and painted eyes and mouth back in. Smudged a little here and there. Flattened and added a touch of sandstone texture.

Started by doubling the size of the image so certain effects that were applied would be more subtle.
Did a curves adjustment.
Adjusted the color, then selected the face area with a high feather.
Copied selection to another layer and kept the original background. I liked the bluish tint when used with the corrected face color.
Did a little adjusting to add some of the original color to the shadowed eyes and lessened the reflection in the left eye.
Ran a high simplification to the background and a slight amount to the original selected area.
Painted in some Nik effects (skylight, contrast, classical blur) where needed.
Sharpened lightly.
Finished with layer styles.

Here is a version obtained by using Trimoon's Portrait Tutorial CD. This is my first shot at the tutorial.

Catia

Okay Danny, here is a summary.

1. Upsampled image to 140 ppi. Duplicated the BG and desaturated
2. Added some grain and duplicated the layer
3. Applied the Trimoon pencil lighting in render lighting effects. Sent blend to screen and faded to 80%
4. Select all, copy merge, paste to get a new combined layer.
5. New layer, filled with white, added mask and painted subject back in.
6. Used smudge brushes to smothe sharp edges and streak hair a bit.
7. Select all, copy merge, and paste.
8. Copied original color BG and pulled to top of stack
9. Adjusted opacity to about 20%
10.Selected a pink colr from image with the color picker and filled a new layer with this color. Set blend to screen.
11.Select all, copy merge, and paste.
12. Applied a texture to this new layer. Adjusted saturation, contrast, and intensity to taste.
13.Flattened, resized and saved.

I'm happy to see the creative approaches to this image. The details help those new to photo-art realize that there's no "one" or "right" method. Do what works for you -- and stop when you're happy!

- - - - -

In this one I continue to experiment with the Microsoft Impressionist plug-in. One thing I really like about it is its ability to render (what appears to be) brush strokes that coincide with the tones in an image vs. the consistent rendering of many of Photoshop's native filters. Layering various Impressionist effects (to me) yields results unlike those possible with any other plugin I've seen. **

Attached to the following post is a snapshot of the layers palette to illustrate the final result effects and layers relationship. This should not be construed as how the image was created, that is, the layers were not created in A-B-C order.

(In response to a recent question I got about "How I build a photo-art image?" here's a general approach. It isn't very scientific as you'll see.)

As I created each layer, I experimented with blend modes, opacities and layer orders until I came up came up with something I liked. Then another layer was added, a different effect applied and the process repeated.

I'm telling you this so no one comes away with the idea that the final result was a foregone conclusion. Far from it. This is another example of "keep experimenting until you get something you like."

~Danny~

** I have a few more legit (as in original Microsoft CDs that include the Impressionist plugin) copies left that I'm selling. Contact me via PM if you're interested.

A legitimate question would be, "WHY do you need a Background & 7 additional layers?"

I fully agree that one coud get favorable results with fewer layers and effects. It's a judgment call. To me each layer and effect adds a little to the final result... a little texture, some strokes, some eye/mouth detail, etc.

Among the nice rules about photo-art is: There are no rules. Create what works for you (or your paying client!).

I never tire of this effect. Plebian, but everyday people like it. I even sell some of these. Printed out on a matte finish paper and framed they are always greated with wows. (I prefer more abstract effects.)

PSP8- enhance the photo
VP oil painting set on Subtle for everything but Material (normal) and Focus (intense)